Spare Florida This 'Heat' Wave

May 9, 1985

Despite the fact that there are already too many guns on the streets, the Florida Legislature is considering ways to put more deadly weapons in people's hands.

A bill being heard in House and Senate committees would allow anyone in the state to carry a concealed gun as long as the person is over 21 and has not been a drunk, a drug addict, a mental patient or convicted of a felony. Those are awfully loose guidelines. The way it works now, counties set up their own guidelines for granting concealed-gun permits. Some, such as Orange County, are tough on who can carry a gun. Others, such as Duval County, are not.

If this open season on guns passes, an estimated 130,000 people will request a permit in the first year alone. That is too many guns on the street. It would turn Florida into an OK Corral. And you can bet that all those new guns on the streets will have their effect on police. Officers could be more likely to shoot, unsure of who is packing heat. And there likely will be more police shot.

If anything, the current regulations on concealed weapons should be tougher. Orange County, for example, requires that people who want to carry concealed weapons show a compelling need. As a result, commissioners have approved only 22 permits in the past seven years. That's how it should be.

The concealed weapon bill is expected to come before the House Appropriations Committee in the next few weeks amid heavy lobbying from the National Rifle Association. Unbelievably, there is support in the House for this arming of Florida. Fortunately, the Senate is not so gun happy. It should send the House a message by killing the idea quickly in committee and get on to more important -- and less dangerous -- matters.